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Vimium Chrome extension

Vimium adds Vim-inspired keyboard shortcuts for scrolling, following links, and searching within any page, aimed at users who prefer keyboard-driven navigation over the mouse. It's best for people already comfortable with Vim keybindings. The catch: the learning curve is real if you've never used Vim, and it changes how normal clicking and scrolling behave.

PriceFree
CategoryProductivity
Works inChrome, Edge, Brave (desktop)
✓Open source

Last checked September 26, 2026 against the Chrome Web Store listing · Independent, not affiliated with Google

Add to Chrome See alternatives

Pros

fast, keyboard-only navigation on any page
link-following shortcuts (link hints) speed up clicking
customizable key mappings
lightweight, no account required

Cons

steep learning curve for users new to Vim-style keys
can interfere with sites that use their own keyboard shortcuts
changes default browser scrolling and navigation behavior

Best for

keyboard-only browsing without a mouse
users already familiar with Vim keybindings
quickly following links and scrolling with key commands
searching within a page using keyboard shortcuts

Skip it if

users who prefer standard mouse-driven browsing
people unfamiliar with Vim who don't want to learn new shortcuts

Key features

Vim-style keyboard shortcuts for scrolling and navigation
link hints to click links using the keyboard
in-page search driven by keyboard commands
customizable key bindings
keyboard shortcuts for tab management

What Vimium does

Vimium injects keyboard shortcuts modeled on the Vim text editor into every page you visit, letting you scroll, follow links, search, and manage tabs without touching the mouse. Pressing a key shows 'link hints' — small letter labels over clickable elements — so you can jump to any link by typing its hint instead of pointing and clicking.

Is Vimium safe?

Vimium needs to run on every page to inject its keyboard shortcuts and link hints, which is why Chrome shows a broad site-access permission during install. It doesn't require an account or external service to function; its purpose is purely to change how you interact with pages locally in the browser.

Featured in

Chrome extension scripting permission

Guides featuring Vimium

Vimium: FAQs

Is Vimium free?

Yes, Vimium is free to install from the Chrome Web Store.

Is Vimium safe to use?

It needs to run on every page to add keyboard shortcuts, but it doesn't require an account or send data to an external service to function.

How do I use Vimium?

Install it, then press ? on any page to see the shortcut list. Common keys include j/k to scroll and f to show link hints.

What are Vimium's basic keyboard shortcuts?

j and k scroll down and up, f shows clickable link hints, and / starts an in-page search, similar to Vim's navigation keys.

What are Vimium alternatives?

Other keyboard-navigation extensions such as SurfingKeys or Vimium C offer similar Vim-style browsing controls.

Can I customize Vimium's keyboard shortcuts?

Yes, its options page lets you remap keys to match your own preferences.

Does Vimium require knowing Vim?

No prior Vim experience is required, but familiarity with Vim's keys makes the shortcuts feel immediately natural.

Why do some sites break with Vimium enabled?

Sites with their own keyboard shortcuts can conflict with Vimium's; you can disable Vimium on specific sites from its settings.

Does Vimium work with forms and text fields?

Yes, Vimium automatically steps aside when you're typing in a text field so its shortcuts don't interfere.

Can I disable Vimium temporarily?

Yes, you can toggle it off for the current tab or disable it entirely from Chrome's extensions menu.